The Kirkus Prize is one of the richest literary awards in the world, with a prize of $50,000 bestowed annually to authors of fiction, nonfiction and young readers’ literature. It was created to celebrate the 81 years of discerning, thoughtful criticism Kirkus Reviews has contributed to both the publishing industry and readers at large. Books that earned the Kirkus Star with publication dates between November 1, 2014, and October 31, 2015, are automatically nominated for the 2015 Kirkus Prize, and the winners will be selected on October 23, 2015, by an esteemed panel composed of nationally respected writers and highly regarded booksellers, librarians and Kirkus critics.

Andrew Clements’ first job out of graduate school was teaching in public schools, and experience that proved invaluable for his later career as an author. With his slyly subversive first novel, Frindle (1996), Andrew Clements established himself as a master of the school story, a reputation he has only burnished over the years. His most recent novel, Trouble-Maker, profiles that type all kids (and teachers) know so well; Kirkus noted that the story "does its job with no trouble at all." Nowadays, he does his writing in a wood stove-equipped shed in his Massachusetts backyard. Photo credit: Worcester Telegram & Gazette

"This is no helicopter mom, and things turn out just fine. Sure to connect with children in many ways—the adventure of camping, learning how to do things all by oneself and conquering initial anxieties. (Picture book. 4-6)"

Clements and Alley reunite to produce a strong companion title to Because Your Daddy Loves You (2005).
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"Readers who've begun this well-written, modern kid-power mystery series will be glad to see this and eager for more. (Mystery. 8-12)"

Working frantically to save their historic school from the wrecking ball scheduled in three weeks, sixth graders Ben Pratt and Jill Acton find the first of five safeguards planted more than 200 years earlier, an ally and treasure that may also help their cause.
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Sixth-grader Ben Pratt is thrust into a mystery-adventure when his school's janitor shoves a gold coin in his hand, passing on the responsibility to save Oakes School from developers.
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"Endless nattering about the auditions may hold some appeal for musical students, and the heavily embroidered New York references might attract others, but most will hope for it all to be over. (Fiction. 12-14)"

Seventeen-year-old Gwen is from Charleston, W.Va., but she has been studying violin in New York City and living with her grandfather.
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"Once again, Clements offers readers an intelligent protagonist, trustworthy adults, an interesting school situation and a real-life problem in a story that moves swiftly enough even for reluctant readers. (Fiction. 8-12)"

Sixth-grader Ted Hammond, who loves a good mystery, finds one in real life when he sees a face in the window of an abandoned farmhouse while on his paper route.
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"The storyline is simple (and sometimes a little stilted), but Bynum's illustrations present an additional layer of warm humor, with an engaging cover illustration of Slippers with a pencil in his mouth, all ready for his big day at school. (Picture book. 4-6)"

In this third offering about Slippers the puppy, the appealing pooch slips into a backpack for an unauthorized visit to his young owner's classroom.
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"The third-person voice is a bit distancing, but it makes the togetherness less treacly, and Dad's mix of love and competence is less insulting, to parents and children both, than Douglas Wood's What Dads Can't Do (2000), illus by Doug Cushman. (Picture book. 5-7)"

Give this child's-eye view of a day at the beach with an attentive father high marks for coziness: "When your ball blows across the sand and into the ocean and starts to drift away, your daddy could say, Didn't I tell you not to play too close to the waves?
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"Although the ideas presented are provocative, germane, and genuinely worthy, the scenario is highly unlikely and the reader can hear the author's voice speaking through the characters a bit too plainly. (Fiction. 8-12)"

A fifth-grade girl genius, who has been fooling her parents and teachers by pretending to be a mediocre student, decides to protest the school culture of tests and testing.
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"Children aren't the only readers who might learn something from this. (Fiction. 8-10)"

In the third episode of a series that might as well be dubbed "Jake Drake: Problem Solver," Clements's fourth-grade narrator again looks back at third grade, in particular an uncomfortable week when he became the subject of a little too much teacherly praise.
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"Worthy—but just as Maxwell underestimates his new student, so too does Clement underestimate his readers' ability to figure out for themselves what's going on in each character's life and head. (Fiction. 10-12)"

Playing on his customary theme that children have more on the ball than adults give them credit for, Clements (Big Al and Shrimpy, p. 951, etc.) pairs a smart, unhappy, rich kid and a small-town teacher too quick to judge on appearances.
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"This easy reader's design features two or three sentences per page with varied text placement, a large type-size, and much white space, creating a satisfying reader at the first-grade level with a built-in safety lesson as well. (Easy reader. 6-8)"

The Pets to the Rescue easy reader series presents true stories of animals that have saved lives, providing a dose of realistic drama along with controlled vocabulary and short sentences.
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"Indeed, it 'grabs hold of yourheart and never lets go.' (Fiction. 10-12)"

A world-class charmer, Clements (The Janitor's Boy, 2000, etc.) woos aspiring young authors—as well as grown up publishers, editors, agents, parents, teachers, and even reviewers—with this tongue-in-cheek tale of a 12-year-old novelist's triumphant debut.
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"Clements mostly steers clear of easy answers and admirably avoids the cliché of having the boys become fast friends at the end, though each does come to realize that the other is 'a good guy.' (Fiction. 8-12)"

Clements (Things Not Seen, below, etc.) offers a heartfelt and well-meaning but somewhat simplistic novella that explores racial-consciousness-raising.
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"Clements mostly steers clear of easy answers and admirably avoids the cliché of having the boys become fast friends at the end, though each does come to realize that the other is 'a good guy.' (Fiction. 8-12)"

Clements (Things Not Seen, below, etc.) offers a heartfelt and well-meaning but somewhat simplistic novella that explores racial-consciousness-raising.
Read full book review >

"The illustrations are pure entertainment, slowly revealing that the workmen and apprentice are using their fine old tools to put together a turn-of-the-century carousel. (Picture book. 4-8)"

Handsomely illustrated with cut-paper art by Wisniewski (The Secret Knowledge of Grown-Ups, 1998, etc.), this homage to tools from Clements (Frindle, 1996, etc.) conveys a sense of their beauty and mystery.
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"With comically realistic black-and-white illustrations by Selznick (The Robot King, 1995, etc.), this is a captivating tale—one to press upon children, and one they'll be passing among themselves. (Fiction. 8-12)"

This year, there are two Santas: the real one, plus someone else who does all the generous things Santa would have done, then goes home, takes off her disguise, and snuggles into bed with Santa himself—his wife!
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